Christian/Community Service

The Greatest Commandment

"But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and fist commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."    Matthew 22: 34-40

Saint Joseph Academy has as one of its goals to not only educate the student in their Faith, but to also encourage the student to live their Faith to the fullest. The Baltimore Catechism asks: “Why did God make you?” And the answer is: “God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.” Another question asks “Why is it necessary to know God?” And the answer given in the catechism is: “It is necessary to know God because without knowing Him we cannot love Him; and without loving Him we cannot be saved. We should know Him because He is infinitely true; love Him because He is infinitely beautiful; and serve Him because He is infinitely good.” We cannot love what we do not know. And without love we cannot serve with the proper disposition. Our motto, Scire, Amare, et Servire Deo (Know, Love and Serve God) lays the foundation of living one's life as a Catholic. First, one must Know God in order to Love Him. The knowledge and love of God then leads to a deep desire to serve Him. And how do we serve Him? Our Lord makes that clear:


... 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'...And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me." Matthew 25:34-4


We serve God in this life by serving our neighbor. It is when we see Our Lord in each of our fellow man that draws us to serve Him with our whole heart, soul, and mind. This can be illustrated by the example of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta. A rich business man was passing by Mother Teresa tending to the sores of a poor, dying man with leprosy in the gutters of Calcutta. He said to her "I wouldn't do that for a million dollars!" She responded, "Neither would I". 


Here at SJA, we have set up a program to encourage service to our fellow mankind by our high school students. Through this program of Christian Service, students are encouraged to take that first step in reaching out to others who they do not know. We have found that once they do, the activity becomes so rewarding and fulfilling that is becomes compelling and enjoyable for the students.  


Our high school students are required to submit 30 volunteer hours/year in order to graduate. It is our hope and prayer that our Seniors will continue to participate in these apostolic activities after graduation and serve Christ, as He has commanded us to do.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the Christian Service Program?

    Through the Saint Joseph Academy High School Christian Service Program students are provided with a structured program in which they can serve their fellow mankind in need. Potentially, the Christian Service Program will allow the student to serve Our Lord by actively participating in a wide variety of community service opportunities.

  • Does the student have to participate in the Christian Service Program?

    Yes. Participation in the Christian Service Program is a GRADUATION REQUIREMENT.

  • How many hours are actually required?

    Students must complete a minimum of 30 community service hours each of their four years at SJA. Transfer students may elect to have their requirement prorated in coordination with the number of semesters they attend SJA.

  • How soon can a student begin volunteering?

    Students may begin accumulating service hours after they have graduated from 8th grade.

  • When do the students perform their service hours?

    All service hours must be completed after school, on weekends, holidays, or during vacation periods. Students are NOT allowed to be absent from school to perform their service hours.

  • At what pace is the student to complete these service hours?

    Students need to submit documented 15 hours (on the provided forms) by the last day of each semester, each school year.  

  • Where does the student go to do service hours?

    Types of service acceptable to the Christian Service Program would include: Volunteering with the Disabled, Elderly, Hospitilized, Homeless, Unwed Mothers, Pro-Life organizations, Parish activities, etc. Volunteer work to assist at school by tutoring, assisting teachers, etc. is also acceptable.  

  • Can the student get service hours through helping people individually?

    Helping a family member, who, for example, suffers from a serious illness or needs assistance with schoolwork, is NOT accepted in the Christian Service Program. This is considered a family issue and NOT a form of community service. 


    On the other hand, assisting a non-family member who is experiencing a personal hardship may be allowed as service hours. Whenever the student is NOT volunteering at an organization/agency, but is instead involved in a personal hardship situation, the service MUST BE PRE-APPROVED by the Program Director. Failure by the student to get pre-approval will result in these particular service hours NOT being accepted. It also must be noted that personal hardships can NEVER account for more than 25 percent of the student's overall graduation requirement.

  • Is baby-sitting accepted in the Christian Service Program?

    Baby-sitting on a personal basis or when assisting someone doing daycare in their home is NOT accepted. The only acceptable form of childcare in the Christian Service Program results from a service performed at a facility that is publicly licensed, or related to a school or church organization.

  • How are service hours documented?

    Service hours are documented in RenWeb. Failure to do so will result in the form being returned to the student. 

  • Is there anything else the student needs to know?

    It is important for the student to identify areas of service that are of interest to them. While one student may enjoy volunteering at a homeless shelter, another may feel uncomfortable. It is also very important for the student to take the initiative. Lastly, many students in the past have used the Christian Service Program to significantly help themselves on applications related to Saint Joseph Academy co/extracurricular activities, colleges, scholarships, and employment.

List of Volunteer Oportunities

Our highest goal at SJA is to form fervent Disciples of Christ. These are students who not only know their Faith but live it as well. We have developed a unique “High School Works of Mercy Program” to encourage Christian service. Speakers from community service organizations will speak to our SJAHS student body about their organizational mission and how our students can participate. SJA will sponsor a school wide activity to assist that organization, and/or offer opportunities to schedule students to serve at the organization.